Theft of public property is rampant across the city. Here are a few things on the ‘popular’ list of thieves costing the authorities dearly
Manhole covers
The most common thing to be stolen from the BMC’s kitty are manhole covers. They fetch quite a price since they are made of cast iron, which is lucrative when sold to scrap dealers.
Worth: A manhole cover weighs between 100 to 200 kg depending on the size, but on an average, it weighs 100 kg. The covers are sold to scrap dealers and they fetch approximately Rs. 3,000 per cover.
Fast facts: There are no confirmed reports but a few ALM members believe that the covers are usually stolen by drug addicts for making a quick buck. The western suburbs are the target areas as they see the maximum number of thefts, which usually take place just before dawn.
BMC’s green-coloured garbage bins
Another commonly stolen item from the corporation are the big green-coloured dust bins put up all around the city.
Worth: The BMC spends approximately Rs. 3 crore on an average per year to install these dustbins across the city. The theft costs the corporation heavily as one bin cost around Rs. 2,000 and these are usually sold to scrap dealers for around Rs. 1,800.
Grave numbers: The gravity of the theft can be understood from the fact that three years ago, the sizeable number of 473 dustbins that were installed in the F/South and F/North wards, had dropped to 12 just a few months down the line. The same issue was faced on railway platforms, which is why the bins have now been replaced by plastic bags.
Gratings of storm water drains, metal benches and metal railings
Metal benches and metal gratings on storm water drains are stolen on a large scale as the heavy metal fetches decent money from scrap dealers. Metal railings installed on bridges, footpaths and road dividers are easily pulled apart at night and are sold off to scrap dealers.
Worth: These metal benches are usually placed at public parks and public beaches. They cost approximately Rs. 35,000 on an average and stealing (and selling off) even one earns the thieves a sizeable amount.
Fast facts: With reduced manpower and police inefficiency, it is difficult to keep a tab on the thieves and in this case, as railings are installed all over the city, it becomes a tricky and widespread menace.
Cables and wires from railway tracks
The railways face a significant problem of cables and wires being stolen from tracks and other railway properties.
Worth: These wires contain copper, which fetches a huge sum in the scrap market. Its market value depends upon the copper content in the cables. Scrap dealers pay anywhere between Rs. 1,000 to a startling Rs. 1,00,000 depending on the copper content.
Fast facts: The theft doesn’t end with just these wires—an RPF officer informs us that even items from the express mail travelling inter-city are not spared. Mirrors and taps installed in these trains are stolen frequently.
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